Italian city crowned Cultural Capital for its reputation « Euro Weekly News

The Sicilian city of Agrigento has been crowned Capital of Culture for 2025, despite the strong influence of the Italian mafia, which local authorities are trying hard to suppress.

Cultural Capital despite mafia influence

As Agrigento prepares to become Italy’s cultural capital in 2025, local authorities have banned the sale of mafia-related souvenirs, instead focusing on its archaeological and architectural treasures.

The Sicilian countryside is known for its mafia heritage. The most recent case involved the arrest by police of seven people with links to organized crime. Drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion have also been a business for years.

Despite its reputation, it is set to become Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2025. The focus has now shifted away from the controversy, with Agrigento police now empowered to inspect souvenir and tourist shops and issue fines (currently unreported in price) to vendors offering mafia-related products.

Local souvenir shops typically sell a wide variety of mafia-related items, from magnets and t-shirts to shot glasses and pictures of Sicilians in traditional dress holding the “lupara” (a sawed-off shotgun). Agrigento Mayor Francesco Micciche has stated that his goal is to undo the glorification of the mafia, despite its great influence on local society.

“Since the sale of such products in the territory of Agrigento humiliates the local community, which has been committed for years to spreading the culture of legality, I recommend a ban on the sale of any type of object that praises the mafia and organised crime or refers to the mafia and organised crime in any way and in any form,” Micciche told local press.

Capital of Culture: Agrigento’s Discredited Heritage

The Agrigento City Council stressed that the city’s diverse heritage has often been discredited due to the bad reputation of organized crime, ignoring the fact that the city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and is home to archaeological remains dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries BC, when the island was part of an ancient Greek colony.

With beautiful ancient, medieval, baroque and modern architecture and an archaeological museum, the local authorities want to highlight the most inspiring parts of Agrigento. There is a cultural programme with 44 new projects that explore the relationship between nature and man.

One of the standout events is a live performance by the Italian opera pop trio II Volo in the Valley of the Temples, which will take residents and visitors back to the time when Agrigento was a place of honor and beauty.

Launched in 2014, the Italian Capital of Culture recognizes cities across the country that are committed to enhancing their cultural heritage and tourism development, bringing together not only visitors but also residents to shape the future of their homeland.